title: A novel and convenient synthesis of benzonitriles: electrophilic cyanation of aryl and heteroaryl bromides.
abstract: N-Cyano-N-phenyl-p-methylbenzenesulfonamide has been used as a more benign electrophilic cyanation reagent for the synthesis of various benzonitriles from (hetero)aryl bromides via formation of Grignard reagents. Electronically different and sterically demanding aryl bromides including functionalized substrates and heteroaryl bromides are successfully cyanated in good to excellent yields. The efficiency of the present methodology is shown by the expeditious syntheses of interesting pharmaceutical intermediates. Notably, chemoselective monocyanation of dibromoarenes is also achieved.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Pazhamalai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anbarasan
authors.forename: Helfried
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beller